German tennis legend says Sania Mirza brings him good luck
Kolkata: German tennis legend Boris Becker rues having not played Roger Federer at Wimbledon Centre Court. The former World No. 1 tennis player, who has recently parted ways with Novak Djokovic also said playing against the likes of Lendl, Sampras and Edberg was always a challenge he enjoyed. Becker is right now in Kolkata to flag of the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K marathon on Sunday.
“I played Lendl, Sampras and Edberg in big finals. They were always the best ones. I always want to compete with the current players. I would have loved to compete with Novak in Wimbledon and play a final against Federer at Wimbledon Centre Court. Those were the matches that you dream about. Obviously that will never happen,” said Becker in Kolkata on Saturday.
The former German tennis star admitted that Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza has been a very good friend of him. Becker added that he has brought her luck in most tournaments.
“I am good friends with all three. In fact the player I see the most is (Sania Mirza) because she is so good and No 1 in doubles so I see her in most tournaments on the final weekend.
“We have this good luck routine and every time we are having lunch and she is with her doubles partner and I am with the team, she is winning the doubles tournament. So Sania insisted on all the important tournaments that we have lunch together because I bring her luck and she brings me luck,” the 49-year old revealed.
Becker said this is the reason he is closest with Mirza.
“I am closest with her. And with all others I am good friends and we know each other for a very long time,” he said.
Becker recently ended his three-year old successful association with current World No 2 Novak Djokovic. The 29-year-old Serb won six Grand Slams under Becker’s tutelage. Asked about the split, Becker said, ”
“Any player-coach relationship doesn’t last forever.
“We had three successful years and won many tournaments. It was time to go separate ways. I call him a very good friend and he can always call me when he needs me.
“We both decided there was a time we needed a break. It doesn’t mean we could come back again in the future. Who knows what will happen in a year or two.
On Djovokic’s recent slump in form which has seen Andy Murray pip him to the numero uno position, Becker said it’s a matter of time before the former World N 1 starts winning next year.
“I think it was a novel evolution for Novak. He is not a machine, he is human. He has had his moments and sometimes when you have a long career you need to see the bigger picture. I’m sure he will come back next year and start winning again.”
Becker was the youngest Wimbledon champion at 17 in the year 1985. Quizzed from when did he start believing he can go the distance, he said, “What people forget sometimes is I arrived at the Wimbledon winning the Queens Cup. I was the player nobody wanted to play in the first round because I wasn’t seeded.
“I had turned professional a year before. And within a year and a half I started playing the Wimbledon as the 20th ranked player again as a seventeen year old. So I was not completely inexperienced or I was not arriving by the luck of the draw I was already pretty good. That’s sometimes not remembered.
“You must remember that time there was no internet, no social media, my English was limited. I had a team around me who kept me up not trying to wake me up from this dream.
“I also had a great coach then. Lot of things happened my way in order to go out there and play.”
Lastly, how can you miss a question on cricket when you are in India? Becker, who is also a huge fan of Franz Beckenbauer admitted, he knows very little about the game. “I don’t understand the rules of cricket. I am going to make myself popular here but I am telling the truth. I do watch it being played on beautiful green grass. The players have off-white clothing which is also beautiful. I still don’t understand when they run, why they run, how they run, how many days they run. I seriously can’t follow it. Where I come from, we finish the game in one day and not in four five days. I am sure they have different formats as well.”